Today is TEACHERS DAY ie 5th September. Teachers Day is a cherished occasion for the teacher as well as for the students. It is celebrated by students all across the country, by honoring their teachers. One may not be fond of all teachers, but there are surely a few who leave an indelible impression in our life’s. The Guru-Shisya tradition denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture. It is the tradition of spiritual relationship and mentoring in traditional Indian culture where teaching is transmitted from a GURU to a disciple. It is considered that this relationship, based on the genuineness of the GURU, and the respect, commitment, devotion and obedience of the student, is the best way for subtle or advanced knowledge to be conveyed. The student eventually masters the knowledge that the GURU embodies.

In today’s context who is an IDEAL GURU? Do we have the same relationship between GURU and SHISHYA as it was earlier or has changed? We have in our Indian culture Guru’s like Vasishta and Dronacharya. Unfortunately, today all are in the mad race of competition for better marks; teachers in a school classroom are given less importance than the teachers appointed for private tuition.

Today Teachers Day is celebrated in great style in many schools, but many students meaninglessly give flowers and “thank you” cards merely as a formality. There are very few students who have a genuine respect for their teachers.

Which part or who is responsible for this situation. I being a teacher accept that it’s most on the part of the teacher itself which brought the GURU-SHISHYA relationship from its pious meaning to something else which is hard to describe. Now it’s the sole responsibility of a teacher that how he is going to maintain the GURU-SHISHYA relationship. If the teacher is positive in his efforts then definitely he can establish a good relationship with his students. The unique and foremost trait of a teacher should be total dedication on his/her part in the field of teaching. A true teacher is rich without money. His wealth is to be reckoned not in terms of bank balance, but in the bounteous love and loyalty he has evoked in pupils. He is an emperor whose empire is carved in the grateful minds of his pupils, which no power on earth can shake, no atom bomb can destroy. A teacher must play the role of lamps that shatter darkness, become the lighthouse that guides the wandering ships to their right destination.

A teacher has to fulfill three levels of responsibility to maintain a healthy GURU-SHISYA relationship.The first is fulfillment of the prerequisite of getting to know his students individually, to probe the innermost depths of their hearts as well as examining the outer details of their lives. As the teacher’s familiarity grows, so the potency of his advice deepens proportionately.Secondly the teacher must express love and affection towards his students. It is the affection and love that dissolves the student’s natural tendency to resist and the advice can penetrate more easily and effectively.Finally, the teacher must take time to reflect upon his students progress, highlight their strengths and label them, refining and adjusting his vision to forward in a positive and meaningful way.

Apart from this a teacher should be a constant motivator for his students. Motivation is not a force that can be supplied from outside. It has to be generated from within and it is a teacher, who is a true leader can inspire his students to grow overcoming every inability and obstacle. A teacher does not have to tell his students to improve, his charisma and actions bring transformation in students silently. Teachers should be a role model for their students. Respecting the interests of students assumes much importance. The teacher should help students understand their interests and strengths.

An ideal teacher builds an everlasting impression on the minds of his students and are always remembered and loved. He displays extreme simplicity inspite of his extra ordinary academic attainments, dedicates his whole life to the cause of education. He never allows his students to be idle or indisciplined. The vastness of his knowledge deeply impresses every student and is never proud of it. For a perfect teacher, all students are alike. He is never partial to any students and is always fair. He does not favor any student, treats each student equally.

The importance of teachers influence on a student should never be under estimated. The values learned at home are developed further at school under a teacher’s guidance. Our society needs teachers who understand the sanctity of the GURU- SHISHYA relationship and are able to inculcate the love of knowledge in their students. To conclude it is said that the teachers should imbibe in themselves the qualities of perseverance, integrity and dedication towards their noble profession realizing the fact that teaching is like planting tree; one should wait for a long time for the trees to finally mature.